The 2021 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl features the 8-4 Central Michigan Chippewas against the 7-5 Boise State Broncos. Here is the 2021 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl Preview.
Central Michigan Chippewas (8-4)
Central Michigan won eight games to make their fifth bowl game since 2015. They defeated five bowl-eligible teams this season. All four of their losses came to teams who qualified for bowl games.
The Chippewas score 33 points per game, tying them for 30th in the country. They rush for 180.6 yards (ranked 49th) and pass for 270.1 yards per game (ranked 25th).
Daniel Richardson has taken the majority of the snaps at quarterback for the Chippewas. He has passed for 2,424 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions on 61.3 percent completion. Five pass-catchers have at least 300 receiving yards on the season. Kalil Pimpleton has been a star for Central Michigan with 58 receptions for 929 yards and four touchdowns. Dallas Dixon has chipped in with 44 receptions for 696 yards and eight touchdowns. JaCorey Sullivan specializes in finding the end zone with 10 touchdown catches.
One back has taken on most of the workload for the Chippewas. Lew Nichols III led the FBS this season with 1,710 rushing yards and found the end zone 15 times. Darius Bracy and Myles Bailey will provide depth.
The defense allows 26.2 points per game, ranking 68th in the FBS. They give up 127.2 rushing yards (ranked 31st) and 266.3 passing yards per game (ranked 117th). Defensive back George Kreski leads the team with 80 total tackles. Defensive lineman Troy Hairston has pressured opposing quarterbacks with 6.5 sacks. Donte Kent has been great in the secondary with 14 passes defended on the season.
Boise State Broncos (7-5)
Boise State won seven games to make a bowl game in head coach Andy Avalos‘s first season. They have victories over five bowl-eligible teams this season. All five of their losses were to teams that qualified for bowl games.
Their offense scores 29.1 points per game, ranking 59th in the country. They rush for 120.4 yards (tied for 109th) and pass for 260.6 yards per game (ranked 40th).
Hank Bachmeier is now a veteran quarterback for the Broncos. He passed for 3,079 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 62.8 percent completion. Four pass-catchers have over 200 receiving yards on the season. Khalil Shakir has been one of the standouts at wide receiver this year with 77 receptions for 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns. Stefan Cobbs and Octavius Evans each have over 400 receiving yards this season.
George Holani has been the lead back for Boise State. He has 569 rushing yards and one touchdown on the season. Cyrus Habibi-Likio has backed him up with 374 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Andrew Van Buren has specialized in finding the end zone with nine touchdowns and 218 rushing yards.
The defense allows 19 points per game, ranking 12th in the country. They concede 157.5 rushing yards (tied for 78th) and 260.6 passing yards per game (ranked 40th). Safety JL Skinner has paced the team with 92 total tackles. Defensive tackle Scott Matlock has seven sacks to lead the team. Kaonohi Kaniho has been great in the secondary with seven passes defended and two interceptions.
Prediction
Boise State’s defense against the Central Michigan offense will be fun to watch. The Broncos’ defense will shine through in the end, as they have faced a lot of good offenses this season. Central Michigan will keep it close though.
Boise State Broncos 30 Central Michigan Chippewas 25
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